Slit Skirts

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, it’s your groovy Zoo Crew spinning the vibes at THE ZOO radio station, and we’ve got a killer track for you: “Slit Skirts” by Pete Townshend from his 1982 solo album All The Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes. This song is a raw, confessional rocker about aging, romance, and the tug of youth, with Townshend laying bare his struggles. In a 1982 interview with Rolling Stone, Pete described it as a reflection of feeling “alone, yet still yearning for lost emotions and power,” written during a dark period when his marriage was crumbling and he was battling substance abuse. He told American Songwriter in 2024 that “Slit Skirts” captures “getting to that place in middle age where you really feel that life is never going to be the same—you’re never going to fall in love again.” The song’s chorus, with its chant of “slit skirts” and “ripped shirts,” symbolizes the reckless abandon of youth slipping away, a theme that hit hard for fans like one Tampa Bay writer who, at 31, felt the lyric “can’t pretend that growing older never hurts” in a way he couldn’t at 19.

Dig this trivia, Zoo Freaks: “Slit Skirts” wasn’t released as a single, despite its catchy, radio-ready vibe. Fans on r/TheWho still call it a standout, with one saying it’s “the millimetrical flipside to ‘My Generation’” for its lament about aging versus the Who’s early defiance. In 1982, Pete performed it at a Prince’s Trust charity concert with none other than Phil Collins on drums, a moment captured on video that had Zoo Crew nodding along. Pete once shared in a narration for the album’s video EP that he wrote “Slit Skirts” specifically for his solo band’s lineup, aiming for a sound that echoed Bruce Springsteen’s grit. A live-in-studio video added harmonica and percussion, which some fans on Medialoper found superfluous, but it showed Pete’s willingness to experiment. The song’s become a classic rock staple, proving its staying power despite never charting.

Let’s rewind to how Pete Townshend got his start, Zoo Freaks. Born May 19, 1945, in London, Pete grew up in a musical family—his dad was a saxophonist, his mom a singer. By his teens, he was strumming banjo in a trad jazz band, but it was meeting John Entwistle at school that changed everything. They formed a band that morphed into the Who in 1964, with Pete as the guitar-smashing songwriter behind hits like “My Generation” and rock operas like Tommy. His solo career kicked off with Who Came First in 1972, but it was 1980’s Empty Glass that put him on the map as a solo artist, hitting the Top Five. Pete’s work, whether with the Who or solo, always dug deep into personal and societal struggles, making him a voice for the restless. He’s also a Broadway tunesmith, snagging a Tony for The Who’s Tommy.

Want to keep up with Pete, Zoo Freaks? Check out his official website for news and tour dates. He’s active on Facebook, sharing updates and throwbacks, and you can catch his posts on Instagram and X. For fan vibes, join the Who Fans Facebook group or dive into TheWho.net, a fan site packed with discographies and forums. You can also geek out on r/TheWho for discussions about Pete’s solo gems like “Slit Skirts.” Keep it locked to THE ZOO, and let’s keep the freak flag flying!